Air-purifying machine.



J. ZELLWEGER, AIR PURIFYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 31,1910

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR J. ZBLLWEGER.

AIR PURIFYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 31, 1910.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

2 SHBETS-SHBET 2.

FNVENTQR;

4 17 Fwd the type referred to that discharges a, greater states 1' EMCE.

AIR-PURIFYING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, i311.

Application filed May 31, 1910. Serial No. 564,256.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN ZELLWEGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Air-Purifying Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to air-purifying machines, and particularly to machines of that type which comprise a rotating filter ring through which the air passes, and means for supplying water to said filter ring so as to wash and purify the air.

One object of my present invention is to provide a machine of the type referred to which is so designed that the wash water will circulate through the machine continuously while the machine is 1n operation and thus overcome the necessity of connecting the machine to a source of water supply.

Another object is to provide an air purifying machine which is so designed that the wash water will be separated from the air and prevented from escaping from the 'machi'ne with the purified air.

Another object is to provide a machine of quantity of air and which is more efiicientthan the air-purifying machines heretofore in use. V Another object is to provide a machine of the type referred to which is so designed that a body of wash water will be maintained at practically aconstant levelin the machine when the machine is in operation. And still another object is toprovide an air-purifying machine of the type referred tothat can be used successfully on railway cars and street cars. 4

Otherobjects and desirable features of my invent-ion will be hereinafter pointed out.

My improved machine, briefly described, consists of a rotating filter ring arranged in such a manner that air will be drawn into same and discharged from the exterior thereof, one or more devices arranged in;

side of the filter ring for introducing water onto same, a water-collecting reservoir com.- municating with said devices so as to supply water thereto and arranged in such a manner that it receives the wash water which is. discharged from the filter ring, a

tank or means for maintaining a body of water adjacent the filter ring, and means forautomatically conveying the water from said tank to said collecting reservoir. The machine is also provided with means for preventing the wash water which escapes from the filter ring from leaving the machine with the filtered air, and in the preferred form of my invention means is provided for automatically supplying water to the tank which is arranged adjacent the filter ring when the water in said tank drops below a certain level.

In the various embodiments of my invention herein shown the filter ringis arranged horizontally and on the inside of a ringshaped collecting reservoir which is located adjacent the upper end of the filter ring or in a higher horizontal plane than that in which the filter ring lies. The air which is to be purified may enter either the top or the bottom of the filter ring and the tank which,

contains the Water that is conveyed to the collecting reservoir is located adjacent the lower end of the filter ring. Various means can be used for conveying the water from said tank to said reservoir, such, for example, as an approximately inverted coneshaped member arranged to rotate with the filter ring and having its upper and lower edges terminating adjacent said collecting reservoir and tank, respectively, or, if deof my invention, taken on approximately the line I-I of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the upper quarter of this view being taken on approximately the line Il-ll of Fig. 1, the righthand quarter being taken on approximately the line illill of F ig. 1, the lower quarter being taken on approximately the line IV -IJ of Fig. l, and the ietthand quarter being taken on approximately the line V-V of Fig. l Fig. 3 is a verticai sectional View of slightiy modified of my invention; =cai tom. A pedestal 2 that projects upwardly from the bottom of the casing carries a bearing 3 which supports a spider 4 connected to a vertically disposed shaft 5 which is rotatably mounted-in said bearing and provided with'a pulley 6 or other suitable means for imparting rotary -movement thereto. The spider 4 supports the filter ring which in the embodiment of my invention herein shown consists of a cylinder 7 provided in its lower portion with perforations and having a number of layers of filtering material 8, preferably of wire cloth, arranged on the inner side of same adjacent said perforations. Vanes or blades 9 project radially from the cylinder 7., and an approximately inverted cone-shaped 1116mber 10 is arranged outside of the cylinder 7 and is securely connected to the vanes 9 so that it will rotate with the filter ring. This inverted cone-shaped member 10 extends from a point adjacent the lower end of the cylinder 7 to a point above the level of the filter ring, but it is spaced away from the cylinder 7 throughout its entire length so that water can travel upwardly over the inner surface of the member 10, as hereinafter described. The vanes 9 extend to the upper end of the cylinder 7 and support a cover 11 whose peripheral edge is deflected downwardly so as to form a flange 11, said cover being provided "with an opening A through which the air is drawn into the filter ring when said ring is rotated. A partition 12 which preferably conforms to the shapeof the inverted cone-shaped member .10, is arranged inside of the casing 1 so as to surround the member 10, and a horizontally disposed ring-shaped partition 13 is interposed between the partition 12 and the,

casing 1 to form an annular-shaped trough 14 which serves as a collecting ring or reservoir for the circulating water, the space under this collecting ring being utilized as a storage tank 15 for fresh water. The casing 1 is provided at'its upper edge with an inwardly and upwardly inclined flange 16 which extends from a level below the top of the inverted cone-shaped member 10 on the filter ring to a level'above said member so as to cover the trough or collecting ring 14 and thus deflect the water which isthrown from V the upper edge of the member 10 downwardly into said trough.

A plurality of sprinkling pipes 17, which are arranged inside of the filter ring 8. are

provided with holes 18 through which jets of water escape onto the inner surface of the filter ring, and feed-pipes 19 are provided for establishing communication between these sprinkling. pipes and the trough or water reservoir 14 so as to cause the water to circulate from said reservoir back to can escape into the tank 31 formed by the bottom of the casing and the partition 12, a Valve 23 being provided for controlling the supply of fresh water from the reservoir 15 into the tank 31. I prefer to provide the machine with means for automatically opening and closing the valve 23 when the water in the tank 31 rises or falls above or below a certain level so as to maintain practically a constant level in said tank, and the means herein shown for accomplishing this consists of a valve-operating lever 24 provided with a pivotally mounted arm 26, as shown in Fig. 2, to which floats 25 are connected. The reference characters 27 and 28 designate drain openings in the bottoms of the fresh water reservoir 15 and the tank 31, respectively. v r

The spider 4, the cylinder 7, the filter ring 8, the vanes 9, and the inverted coneshaped member 10 constitute the filter wheel of themachine, and when this filter wheel is rotated rapidly the air in the spaces of the filter ring and between the vanes 9 is carried along in a circular course and thus acquires centrifugal force. Under action of this force the air in that part of the spaces between the vanes which is above the inverted cone 10, is thrown out of the wheel and replaced by air from that part of the vane spaces which is below the top of the inverted cone-shaped member 10, this air in turn being replaced by air from the filter ring. More air follows into the filterring by the atmospheric pressure from the center space of the wheel and the result is a continuous flow of air through the filter ring, perforated cylinder 7, vane spaces, and the annular pressure chamber 29 between the stationary deflector 16 of the casing and the downwardly inclined flange 11 of the cover 11, said air being discharged all a'round the casing and in a downward direction.v The rotary movement of the inverted cone-shaped member 10 causes the water in the tank 31 to be set. in rotation due to frictional engagement, and this water acquires sufiicient centrifugal force to cause' it to rise on the inner face of the inverted 1...:

assess cone-shaped member and to be "thrown over the edge of said member tangentially and. in the plane of rotation against the inside face of the deflector 16 which deflects the water downwardly into the collecting from which the filter ring is composed, they are scattered into water drops and mist which are carried into the filter ring by the infiowing air, the water being thus spread in a thin film over the entire surface of the filtering material and being rotated in a circular course. The centrifugal force throws the water outwardly through the-spaces of the filter ring and through the perforated cylinder into the spaces between the vanes 9 and against the inner face of the inverted cone-shaped member 10 where it mingles withv the water which said member is raising out of the tank 31 and into the collecting ring or reservoir 14. The excess of water raised by the inverted cone-shaped member 10 into the collecting reservoir 14 over the quantity that can be discharged by the sprinkling pipes 1'2, is allowed'pa-rtly to'llow over. the npper'edge of the partition 12.into the tank 31, and partlyto iiow out of the perforated idrain plugs 20 from the feed pipes 19 into said tank 31..

During its passage through the wet filter ring the air current is rapidly divided, mingled and re-divided into as many small currentsas there are meshesin the wire cloth or the filter ring, and at the same time the air is made to impinge rapidly onto the water which passes over said wire cloth. This repeated forcible contact of the air with the water causes all dust particles floating in the air to be projected onto the water film and there to be retained by adhesion. All impurities taken up by the water are continually Washed out of the filter ring by the recirculating wash water and accumulated therein to a degree which makes it necessary to dilute it by a quantity of fresh water and to waste some of the water through a drain from the bottom of the tank 31 either continually or periodically, the drains 20 beingused to wash out the impurities which tend to settle in the feed pipes 19. Whenever water is drained out of the bottom of the tank 31'. the floats 25 descend and thus cause the valve 23 to be opened so as to permit fresh water to fiow from the reservoir 15 through the opening 22 into said tank, and when the required level is attained said floats exert sufiicient pressure on the lever 24 to hold the valve seated. The same opera tion is causedby the escape or some of the onthe inner side of the filter ring.

wash water in the form of vapor with the air and'the consequentlowering of-the water level in the tank 31.

While I do not wish it to be understood that my invention is limited to any par ticular means for automatically opening and closing the valve which controls the supply of water to .the tank 31, still I prefer to employ va'lve-contrdlling means of substantially the form herein shown on machines that'are used in cars and vehicles which are subjected to a more "or less rolling motion for the pivotally mounted arm 26 on the lever 24 which connects the floats 25 to said lever permits the water in the tank 31 to move 'to and fro without disturbing or affecting the valve 23.

A machine 'of the construction herein shown overcomes the necessity of using a constant supply of wash water, for the inverted cone-shaped member 10 automatically feeds the water from the tank 31 into the collecting trough or reservoir 14 from which the pipes '19 lead to the sprinkling pipesr 17 he machine is compact and is so designed that no water in the form of a spray or drops can escape from the machine, for the deflector 16 which isarranged over the collecting trough separates the'water thatis thrown out of the filter ring with the air. The air'after passing through the wet filter ring is discharged from the pressure chamber 29 thoroughly purified or all dust and about ninety per cent. saturated with moisture. Furthermore, the air is also cooled or warmed according to its original temperature and the temperature of wash water that is used to purify the air. "While I have herein stated that the 'air is discharged all around the casing I do notwish it to be understood "that my invention .is limited to such a structure for, if desired. the air that is discharged from the filter ring couldbe collected and delivered to suitable delivering ducts or conduits.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a machine which is practically the same as the one shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that it is not provided with a fresh water reservoir 15, the partition 12" being of substantially cylindrical shape and spaced "a slight distance away from the cylindrical wall of the casing 1 so as to form a comparatively deep trough ich the shaft 5 to which the supporting spider 1 is connected, rests on the bearing 2*, and the casing 1 is made substantially ring-shaped so as to provide an opening for said bearing and pulley. An inverted cone-shaped.mem-' I ber is arranged adjacent the -'lower end of the filter ring so that it will project into the water in the tank 31, and a cylinder 10 is arranged above said inverted cone-shaped member. An accumulator 10 is arranged at the upper end of 'thecylinder 10 and a riser pipe 10 which projects upwardly from said accumulator, is utilized for conducting the water from said accumulator into the ring-shaped trough-or collecting reservoir 1 1. When the filter wheel; is rotated the water in the tank 31 travels upwardly over the .invertedcone-shaped member 10 and flows through the openings in the plate which supports said member against the cylinder 10 vThe water keeps accumulating and rising on said cylinder until it overflows into the accumulator 10 which'prefi erably consists of a ring-shaped trough, and

when said tron h is filled the water therein rises into-the pi e 10 from which it. subse-' quently fio'ws into the collecting ring 14 from which it is conveyed by-the pipes 19- back to the sprinkling pipes 17. The vanes 9 in this form of my invention are of slightly different construction from thefform shown in Fig. 1 and only occupy the u per part of the space between the cylinder% of the filter wheel and the means that lifts the water from the tank 31 into the collecting trough.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a machine which differs from the machines previously described in that the air is taken in through the lower end of the filter ring, and, further, that, the tank which holds the water that'is fed to the collecting reservoir rotates with the filter ring instead of being-stationary, said tank being designated by the reference character 31 and having a side wall 10? of approximately inverted coneshape. The rotary movement of the filter wheel causes the Water in the tank 31 to rise on the inverted cone-shaped wall 10 thereof, and when the Water reaches the upper edge of said wall it is discharged outwardly into the collecting ring or reservoir 14 from which it flows back tothe sprinklingpipes 17 through the feed pipes 19, some of the water escaping.

from the sprinkling pipes back into the tank 31}. The collectin trough or reservoir 14: is formed by a statlonary casing 1 rovided with an approximately ring-shape bottom 13 from the inner edge of which a vertically dis osed flange 12 projects, and an inwardly an upwardly inclined deflector 1.6 is arrangedoversaid trough so as to prevent the water which is thrown out from the filter ring from escaping from the machine, the air that escapes from the filter wheel passing into the collecting chamber 29 between said deflector and the downwardly inclined flange 11? on the cover 11 which the vanes 9 of the filter wheel support.

'While I have herein stated ,that the various embodiments of-my invention herein shown are used for purifying air, I do not.

wish it to be understood that my broad idea is limitedto a machine that is used for this specific purpose as my improved machine maybe used for purifying various gases and collecting or extracting some of the constituents of the gases.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the character described, comprising a rotating filter ring arranged in such a manner that the medium being operated on is drawn inwardly into same and discharged from the exterior thereoflmeans for introducing a liquid cleansing agent onto the inner surface of said ring, a supply" reservoir communicating with said means for supplying the liquid cleansing agent thereto, a tank or other suitable means arranged adjacent said filter memberfor containing a quantity of the liquid cleansing agent that is used in the machine, and means for automatically conveying or feeding the liquid. cleansing agent from said tank into said reservoir.

-2. A machine of the character described,

comprising a rotating filter ring arranged in such a manner that the medium being operated on is drawn inwardly into same and discharged from the exterior thereof, means for introducing a liquid cleansing agent onto the inner surface of said ring, a supply reservoir communicating with said meansfor supplying the liquid cleansing agent thereto, a tank or other suitable means arranged adjacent said filter member for containing a quantity ofthe liquid cleansing agent that is used in the machine, means for automatically conveying or feeding the.

liquid cleansing agent from said tank into said reservoir, and means for automatically supplying the liquid cleansing agent to said, tank agent that is used in the machine, means for automatically conveying or feeding the liquid cleansing agent from said tank into said ceases rounding said filter ring and arranged adja.

cent the upper end thereof, a: connection between said reservoir and spraying device,'a tank arranged adjacent the lower end of the filter ring for containing a quantity oft-he liquid cleansing agent used in the machine, and a rotating means for causing the liquid in said. tank to be raised or lifted into sai reservoir. 7

5. In a machine of the character described, a horizontally arranged rotating filter ring that causes the medium being operated on to be drawn into same and discharged from the exterior thereof, a spraying device arranged in said ring for apply- .ing a liquid cleansing agent to the inner surface thereof, a collecting reservoir surrounding said filter ring and arranged adjacent the upper end thereof, a connection between said reservoir and spraying device, a tank arranged adjacent the lower end of the filter ring for containing a quantity of the liquid cleansing agent used in the machine, a rotating ,meansfor causing the liquid insaid tank to be raised or lifted into said-reservoir, and blades or-vanes on the exterior of said; filter ring. I

6. In a machine of the character described, a horizontally arranged rotating filter ring that causes the medium being operated on to be drawn into same and discharged from the exterior thereof, a spray: ing device arrangedin saidring for applying; aliquidcleanslng agent to the inner surface thereof, a collecting reservolr surrounding said filter ring and arranged adjacent the u per end thereof, a connection between sai reservoir and spraying device, a tank arranged adjacent the llower end of the filter, ring for containing a quantity of the liquid cleansing agent used in the machine, a rotating means for causing the liquid in said tank to be raised or lifted into said reservoir, blades or vanes on the exterior of said filter ring, and means for causing the cleansing liquid that escapes from said ring to enter said reservoir.

7. Ina machine of the character described, a horizontally arranged rotating filter ring, a device arranged inside of said ring for applying a liquid thereto, a reservoir surrounding the filter ring and arranged adjacentthe upper end thereof. a connection between said reservoir and the liquid-applying device, a tank arranged adejacent the lower end of the filterringfor cont-aininga quantity of liquid, and means for causing the liquid in said tank to revolve when the filter ring is rotated and pass, upwardly intosaid reservoir.

{8. In a 'machine of the character described, a horizontally arranged rotating filter ring, a device arranged inside of said; ring for applying a liquid thereto, a rese'r'.

voir surrounding the filter ring and arranged adjacent the upper end thereof, a connection; between said reservoir and the liquidapplying device, a tank arranged ad jacent the lower end of the filter ring for containing a quantity of liquid, means for causing the liquid in said tank to revolve *when the filter ring is rotated and thus at: ,tain sufficient centrifugal forceto cause 1t to pass upwardlyinto said. reservoir, and fan blades or vanes arranged on the exterior of said filter ring.

Slain a machine of the character described, a horizontally arranged rotating filter ring, a device arranged inside of said ring forapplying a liquid thereto, a reservoir surrounding the filter ring and arranged adjacent the upper end thereof, a connection between said reservoir and the liquid-applying device, a tank arranged adjacent the lower end of the filter ring for containing a quantity of liquid, means for causing the liquid insaid tank to revolve when the filter ring is rotated and thus a-ttain sufficient centrifugal force to cause it topass upwardly into said. reservoir, fan blades or vanes arranged on the exterior of saidfilter ring, and means-for separating theliquid that escapes from the filter ring from the air that escapes from said ring.

10. Ina machine of 'he scribed, a'horizontally arranged rotating filter ring that causes air tov be drawninto same an discharged from the extemor thereof, a collecting reservoir arranged outside of said filter ring for containing water that is used for purifying the air which is drawn into the filter ring, means arranged inside of the filter ring and communicating with said reservoir for applyingwater to the inner surface of said ring, means for maintaming a body of water ad acent the lower end of the filter ring, and means arranged to rotate with said filter ring for causing the water at the lower end of same to be lifted upwardly and discharged into said reservoir.

11. in a machine of the character described, a horizontally arranged rotating filter ring that causes air to be drawn into same and discharged from. the exterior thereof, a collecting reservoir arranged outside of said filter ring for containing water that is used for purifying the air which is drawn into the filter ring, means arranged har'acter deinside of the filter ring and communicating I with said reservoir for applymg'water to 'the' inner'surface of said ring-,nieans for maintaining a body of'water adjacent the lower end of the filter ring, means arranged to rotate with said filter ring for causing the water at the lower end of same to be lifted upwardly and discharged into said reservoir, and a deflector arranged adjacent said reservoir for causing the water that escapes from the filter ring in the form of a spray to enter said reservoir.

12. In a machine of the character described, a horizontally arranged rotating filter ring that causes air to be drawn into same and discharged from the exterior thereof, a device arranged in said filter ring for applyingwater to the inner surface thereof, a reservoir communicating with said device and arranged in such a manner that the water is supplied to said devlce under pressure, means or mamtaimng a'body of water adjacent the lower end of the filter ring,

and means for causing the water to circulate from said body of water to said reservoir and then through said device while the filter ring is in operation.

13. In a machine of the character de-- scribed, a rotating filter ring, means for maintaining a body of water adjacent the lower end of said ring, a reservoir arranged in a higher horizontal plane than said body of water, water-applying devices arranged within the filter ring and communicating with said reservoir,- and means for causing said body of waterto-be raised by centrifu: gal force into said reservoir when the filter ring is in operation so as to maintain a con stant circulation of water through the mascribed, a horizontally arranged filter ring, 1

a reservoir arranged outside of said filter ring and ad acent the upper end thereof, a water-lifting member arranged outslde of the filter ring and rotating with same for causing a body of water at the lower end of said filter ring to be raised by centrifugal force into said reservoir, and vanes or blades arranged between said filter ring andsaid water-lifting member.

11 6. A. machine of the character described, comprising a horizontally arranged filter ring that causes air to be drawn into same and discharged from the exterior thereof, a device for applying wash water to said filter ring, a reservoir which receives some of the wash water that is discharged from saidfilter ring, said reservoir being arranged in a higher horizontal plane than said device, and a connection between said reservoir and the device which applies the wash water to the filter ring.

17. A machine of the character described, comprising a horizontally arranged filter ring that causes air to be drawn into same and discharged from theexterior thereof,

a device for applying wash water to said zontally, means for maintaining a body of water adjacent the lower end of said ring, a reservoir arranged in a higher level than said body of water, devices communicating with said reservoir for applying water to the inner surface of the ring, a valve for antomatically controlling the supply to said body of water, and means governed by said .body of water for controlling said valve,

said valve-controlling means being so constructed that it is not aifected or rendered inoperative when said body of water is in a turbulent state.

19. A machine of the character described, comprising a horizontally arranged rotating filter ring, a 'tank surrounding said filter ring for containing wash water, a collecting reservoir arranged adjacent the upper end of said tank, an approximately inverted cone-v shaped rotatable member that causes the water in said tank to be lifted by centrifugal force into said reservoir, blades or vanes arranged between said filter ring and inverted cone-shaped member and extending above said member, a deflector arranged over said reservoir, and a downwardly inclined deflector that rotates with said ring so as to cause the air that passes through said ring to be discharged downwardly and outwardly from the machine;

20. A machine of the character described, comprising a horizontally arranged rotating filter ring, a tank surrounding said filter ring for containing wash water, a collecting reservoir arranged adjacent the upper end of said tank, an approximately inverted cone-shaped membcr'arranged to rotate in said tank so as to cause the water in said tank to be lifted by centrifugal force into ating said valve, and an arm pivotally connected to said lever and provided atits opposite ends with floats.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my said reservoir, blades or vanes arranged be tween said filter ring and inverted cone- I shaped member and extending above said member, a deflector arranged over said reserrotates with said ring so as to Cause the air this 28th day of May 1910.

5 voir, a downwardly inclined deflector that signature inthe presence of two witnesses, 15'

that passes through said ring to be dis- JOHN ZELLW'EGER.

charged downwardly and outwardly from lVitnesses: the machine, a valve for controlling the supi lVnLLs L. CHURCH,

1 ply of water to said tank, a lever for actu- GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

